2026 Friend of the Foundation

For years, Matt Tobin and Pierce McDowell asked every family they worked with at the South Dakota Trust Company one important question: Will you invest in the future of South Dakota?

The answer was almost always ‘yes.’

Today, the team at JTC South Dakota Trust Company continues that tradition, and that simple question has helped bring millions of dollars in charitable giving to Sioux Falls and the state.

In recognition of their lasting influence, the South Dakota Trust Company Foundation is the 2026 Friend of the Foundation honoree. Each year, the award celebrates individuals, families or businesses whose generosity and commitment have shaped Sioux Falls in meaningful ways.

Mary Kolsrud, chief philanthropy officer for the Community Foundation, said Tobin and McDowell have gone beyond being generous themselves and instead inspired generosity in others.

“What makes that even more remarkable is that many of the families they’ve inspired to give to Sioux Falls don’t live here. They’re from across the country and around the world,” Kolsrud said. “These are charitable dollars that likely would never have found their way to South Dakota without someone inviting those families to give back here.”

Tobin said part of doing business in South Dakota is being a good corporate citizen. He and McDowell carried that belief into their work with families by encouraging philanthropy.

“Being a good corporate citizen and doing business in South Dakota carries with it an expectation that you will give back,” Tobin said.

Tobin and McDowell recognized that families wanted to give back, so they created the South Dakota Trust Company Foundation, a Donor Advised Fund and an endowment held at the Community Foundation, to help families invest in South Dakota.

“Those early conversations with families were easy,” Tobin said. “Everyone that’s come here to do business has really enjoyed doing business in South Dakota, and they’ve learned to enjoy Sioux Falls. Giving back and being philanthropic is part of who they are, so it was a matter of connecting the opportunities for them.”

He said it’s been a fun way to engage families. “It really adds a level of excitement and an added dimension to our overall relationship with these families,” Tobin said. “And, as our business has grown, this list of charitable contributors has grown, so it’s taken off. I’m really proud of it.”

McDowell said families quickly fell in love with Sioux Falls, which made asking them to give back easy. “There are so many wonderful causes, and many of these families had not been exposed to the needs of South Dakota,” he said. “It’s ended up working beautifully. These families felt like they were giving back to a place that meant something to them.”

Getting started

Tobin said he approached the Community Foundation with the idea of having an endowment and a Donor Advised Fund. At the time, he hoped to build the funds to $1 million.

“We wanted to build something that would last forever, but we also wanted to build something we could use immediately,” Tobin said. “They both have served their purpose.”

They’ve given more than $2 million through the Donor Advised Fund, while the endowment holds about $2 million. Kolsrud said the two funds are complementary, and the community benefits.

“Pierce and Matt haven’t only focused on what Sioux Falls needs today. Each year, while they give back to the community, they also set aside a portion of those gifts in an endowment,” Kolsrud said. “They’re not only responding to needs today but investing in Sioux Falls for generations to come.”

Kolsrud noted that an endowment creates a permanent source of charitable support.

“That takes a different kind of vision. They understand that you can make a meaningful difference today while also building something that will continue making Sioux Falls stronger decades from now,” Kolsrud said.

Tobin said a key to that has been the relationship with the Community Foundation.

“The Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation has been a fantastic partner,” Tobin said. “They’ve helped us administer our two funds, and they’ve provided clarity around fund management and giving when we’ve had questions. They’ve helped us administer our donation practice. Every time we’ve asked for help, they’ve given it. We could not have done this as well without the Community Foundation’s partnership.”

Regular giving

Consistent giving from the fund has been particularly meaningful for the nonprofits who benefit.
Madeline Shields, executive director of the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House, a temporary emergency shelter in downtown Sioux Falls, said they rely on the regular giving from the South Dakota Trust Company Foundation.

“We know that their consistent contributions are going to help us keep our doors open and make sure that we have food at Bishop Dudley House. We have utilities. We can keep the lights on, keep the heat going, keep the water running here for the thousands of people who rely on this life-saving ministry,” Shields said. “Without the South Dakota Trust Company Foundation, we would not be able to continue the work we do.”

She appreciates that it has been able to bring in additional charitable dollars to the state. “It’s awesome to know they care enough to contribute to the well-being of citizens right here in Sioux Falls,” she said. “We could not be more grateful.”

Allison Weiland, executive director of the State Theatre, agrees.

“The State Theatre simply wouldn’t exist as it does today without philanthropy,” Weiland said. “It sat dark for nearly 30 years, and without the support from foundations and businesses and individuals, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

Consistent gifts show an investment in the mission of an organization. “This is giving we can count on every year, allowing us to plan ahead,” Weiland said. “And when we can do that, we can continue to help people create great memories around film that will last a lifetime.”

Mallie Kludt, President and CEO of VOA Dakotas echoed that sentiment, noting that the South Dakota Trust Company Foundation has supported them for the past 15 years.

"True transformation rarely happens because of one gift," Kludt says. "It happens because organizations like this commit to supporting nonprofit partners who share their vision for the community. Relationships like this are core to everything we do."

Inspiring generosity

Tobin said encouraging clients to give back created a culture of philanthropy within the company itself.

“I never thought about that when we began putting this together, but it became a really important part of our company’s personality,” he said. “While the company does good work, one of the things our employees would say they are most proud of is working for a company that cares about our community, gives back to our community and leads by example.”

McDowell said the culture of corporate giving and inspiring philanthropy has been meaningful for employees. “They’re loyal, and when we can tell the story of how we’ve helped this cause or that cause, it matters to them,” he said.

Kolsrud agrees. “That combination of inviting others into generosity and thinking generations ahead is what makes them such wonderful Friends of the Foundation,” she said.

“And it makes you think about the possibilities,” Kolsrud said. “What if every CPA, attorney, trust officer or wealth advisor in Sioux Falls had those conversations with their clients? What if part of good advising was encouraging generosity? Imagine what that could unlock in our community.”